Gang operated switch



Feb. 25,1936. J J. DESM'OND Re. 19,864

GANG OPERATEP SWITCH Original Filed April 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1gvmntoz pas/710210 Feb. 25, 1936. J J DESMOND Re. 19,864

GANG OPERATED SWITC H Original Filed April 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Reissued Feb. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GANG OPERATED SWITCHJohn J. Desmond, Hubbard Woods, 111., assignor to Line Material Company,South Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Original No. 1,903,095,dated March 28, 1933, Serial No. 441,797, April 5, 1930. Application forreissue November 15, 1934, Serial No. 753,241

Claims.

This invention relates to gang operated switches.

While the invention is applicable to a number of different uses, it is,nevertheless, particularly adapted for use on a high voltagetransmission 52c, such, for example, as a three-phase power Heretoforeit has been the usual practice to place the three switches in line andto operate them by a steel shaft. Attempts to increase the insulationbetween the several switches have been made and have consisted primarilyin the substitution of an insulating shaft for the steel shaft. However,due to warping, inherent springiness and other defects of this type,these attempts have not proven wholly satisfactory. For example, one ofthe pronounced defects from this construction lies in the fact that whenthe connecting shaft is made of wood, it frequently warps and thusalters or afiects the opening and closing position of the respectiveswitches.

In addition to this, the maximum insulation between the phases of theswitch is not very greatly increased by this construction.

This invention is designed to overcome the defects noted above, andobjects of this invention are to provide a novel form of gang operatedswitch which is so constructed that the maximum insulation betweenphases of the switch is obtained in a very simple and effective manner,in which insulating connecting rods are employed in such a manner thattwisting or warping will not affect the opening and closim positions ofthe respective switches, and in which there is no metallic operatingshaft directly connecting the several switches.

In greater detail, objects of this invention are to provide a gangoperated switch, for example, for polyphase transmission lines in whichthe switches in the different phases may be readily arranged in atriangular manner, that is to say,

with the individual switches at the apices of the triangle, and in whichthe main operating shaft is connected to the rock arms of the switchesby wooden connectors so that twisting or warping of these connectorswill not affect the relative opening and closing positions of theswitches.

Further objects are to provide a novel manner of supporting theindividual switches of the gang Operated switch so that there is nochance of flashovers or other disturbances from excessive voltagesurges, for example, those produced by lightning, and in which theindividual switches have their base P t Witablepars tions carried by awooden supporting structure.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a view partly broken away showing the gang operated switch.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1, with theoutermost switch omitted for the sake of clearness.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the gang operated switchhas been shown as carried by one of the usual poles l of thetransmission line. The pole is provided with an upper pair of spacedparallel wooden arms 2 and with a lower pair of spaced parallel woodenarms 3. These arms may, of course, be inset in notches cut in the pole,as shown in Figure 2 for instance, and may be suitably braced, asindicated in Figures 1 and 2.

The lower pair of arms 3 carry the bearing supports 4 for the main steeloperating or rock shaft 5. This shaft is provided with a rock arm 6which is connected to an operating lever l pivotally carried by asupport 8 attached to the lower portion of the pole. This operatinglever is provided with an operating handle 9 and is adapted to rock justpast dead center in order to lock the switch in closed position,preferably when the lever is uppermost. When the lever is rockeddownwardly, the switch is opened, as will hereinafter appear. Thisoperating lever is of the usual and well known construction, andpreferably comprises a pair of arms between which the inwardly bent endll) ,of a connecting rod II is pivoted. This connecting rod II has itsuppermost end preferably pivoted to a guide l2 which, as indicated inFigure 2, may consist of a pivoted lever. The connecting link continues,in effect, upwardly to the rock arm 6 of the main rock shaft 5, as shownin Figure 2, and an intermediate portion I3 of wood or other insulatingmaterial is provided. Also, it is preferable to provide an insulator I4between the metal portions of the composite connecting rod and the lowerend of the wooden section I3, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

It is also to be distinctly understood that although the connecting rod,from the operating r lever or handle to the crank arm or rock arm 8 ofthe main shaft, has been shown as pivoted intermediate its ends upon therocking guide l2, it is to be distinctly understood that such connectinglink or rod may extend continuously from the operating lever to the rockarm 6, provided there is not an excessive distance between suchportions.

The switches for the several phases are indicated generally at A, B andC, and each comprises a stationary portion I4 and a movable or pivotallymounted portion I5, see Figures 2 and 3. These portions carry thestationary and movable blades in the usual manner, the movable portionhaving its blade connected by a flexible cable to a stationary terminall6 mounted upon a suitable stationary portion Il. Each switch unit iscarried by a base member Hi.

The switches A and C are secured to the parallel, transverse arms 2 inwidely spaced relation to each other, as shown in Figure 1. The switch Bhas its base I8 mounted upon the top of the pole and is provided withsuitable braces, as indicated at IS in Fi ure 2.

The mounting of the individual switches A, B and C will be seen to bevery sturdy and reliable and to afford the utmost security of supportfor the switches.

Each switch is provided with a rock arm or crank arm 20 which, in eachinstance, is connected to a crank arm or rock arm 2| correspondinglypositioned upon and secured to the main rock shaft 5. The connectinglinks 22, 23 and 24 for the switches A, B, and C, see Figure 1, are eachprovided with an intermediate wooden or other insulating portion whichis secured to end clevises pivotally attached to the arms 20 and 2|respectively. Obviously these connecting rods or links may be madeadjustable to lengthen or shorten them in any suitable manner, as byscrewing or clamping their metal end portions within the end clevises,so that the exact adjustment desired may be most easily obtained. Forexample, attention is directed to Figure 3, from which it will be seenthat the end clevises 25 receive the threaded ends .of the metal endportions of the connecting link 24. Of course, other forms of adjustmentcould be readily employed.

It is apparent that the maximum spacing and wood insulation betweenphases of the switch is obtained by the use of these wooden orinsulating connecting rods or links, and that, although these connectingrods or links may warp or twist, nevertheless they will not affect therelative opening or closing positions of the several switches. The mainrock shaft or operating shaft is formed of steel or other metal and willnot warp. Consequently the correct, relatively angular position of theseveral rock arms or levers 2| will be permanently maintained, thusinsuring slmultaneous opening and closing of the several switches. Thewooden connecting rods or links 22, 23, and 24 are not called upon totransmit torsion, but merely longitudinal forces. Consequently twistingof these rods does not affect the relative opening and closing positionsof the several switches.

This construction provides a supporting structure for the metallic rockshaft which is distinct and separate from the supporting structure forthe switch units. There is, therefore, the greatest possible insulationbetween the metallic rock shaft and the switch units which would not beobtained had the metallic rock shaft been carried by the same structurethat carries the switch units.

The metallic rock shaft does not warp due to temperature changes, but inview of the fact that this is a conducting member, it obviously woulddecrease the total insulating effect if it we ried by the same structurethat carries one or more of the switch units. However, by having themetallic rock shaft, as stated and as shown, carried by a separatesupporting structure, it is clear that the maximum possible insulationis obtained.

It is to be noted also that there is no metallic intermediate portionbetween the several switches of the gang operated switch, andconsequently the insulation between successive phases, and between anygiven phase and the ground, is very greatly increased by thisconstruction.

It will be seen, further, that the construction is very simple, is easyto produce, and is relatively cheap. It lends itself readily to thepractical requirements of a transmission line.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, it isto be understood that such description is intended as illustrativerather than limiting, as the invention may be variously embodied and isto be interpreted as claimed.

I claim:

1. A gang operated switch comprising a plurality of switch units, aninsulating structure supporting said switch units in laterally andvertically spaced relation, each switch unit having a blade carried by arock shaft distinct and separate from the rock shaft of each of theremaining switch units, and each switch unit having a rock arm carriedby its rock shaft, a metallic rock shaft spaced from each switch unitand provided with a plurality of rock arms, insulating links joiningsaid last mentioned rock arms with the rock arms of the said switchunits, and means spaced from said last mentioned rock shaft foroperating said rock shaft.

2. A gang operated switch comprising a plurality of switch units, aninsulating structure supporting said switch units in laterally andvertically spaced relation, each switch unit having a blade carried by arock shaft distinct and separate from the rock shaft of each of theremaining switch units, and each switch unit having a rock arm carriedby its rock shaft, a metallic rock shaft spaced from each switch unitand provided with a plurality of rock arms, insulating links joiningsaid last mentioned rock arms with the rock arms of the said switchunits, a hand lever positioned below said last mentioned rock shaft, anda link mechanism connecting said last mentioned rock shaft and said handlever, said link mechanism including an insulating link portion,

3. A gang operated switch comprising a plurality of switch units, aninsulating supporting structure supporting said switch units in spacedrelation, each switch unit having a blade carried by and insulated froma rock shaft distinct and separate from the rock shaft of each of theremaining switch units, each switch unit having a rock arm carried byits rock shaft, a second supporting structure spaced from said firstmentioned supporting structure, a metallic rock shaft spaced from eachswitch unit and carried by said second supporting structure and providedwith a plurality of rock arms, insulating links joining said lastmentioned rock arms with the rock arms of said switch units, and meansspaced from said last mentioned rock shaft for operating said rockshaft.

4. A gang operated switch comprising a plurality of switch units, aninsulating supporting structure supporting said switch units in spacedrelation, each switch unit having a blade carried by and insulated froma rock shaft distinct and separate from the rock shaft of each of theremaining switch units, each switch unit having a rock arm carried byits rock shaft, a second supporting structure spaced from said firstmentioned supporting structure, a metallic rock shaft spaced from eachswitch unit and carried by said second supporting structure and providedwith a plurality of rock arms, insulating links joining said lastmentioned rock arms with the rock arms of said switch units, a handoperated member positioned below said last mentioned rock shaft, andlink mechanism including an insulating link portion operativelyconnecting said rock shaft and said hand operated member.

5. A gang operated switch comprising a pinrality of switch units, aninsulating supporting structure supporting said switch units in spacedrelation, each switch unit having a blade carried by and insulated froma rock shaft distinct and separate from the rock shaft of each of theremaining switch units, each switch unit having a rock arm carried byits rock shaft, a second supporting structure spaced from said firstmentioned supporting structure, a metallic rock shaft spaced from eachswitch unit and carried by said second supporting structure and providedwith a plurality of rock arms, insulating links joining said lastmentioned rock arms with the rock arms of said switch units, each ofsaid insulating links being adjustable to permit accurate alignment ofsaid switch units, and means spaced from said last mentioned rock shaftfor operating said rock shaft.

JOHN VJ. DESMOND.

